Tuesday afternoon recruiting updates
With only a few spots left in 2019 and the close of the Dead Period on the horizon, the A&M staff is focusing much of their recruiting efforts on the incoming visitors this weekend as well as turning their attention to some of their top targets in 2020. After checking around the last day or so, I'd downgrade Colquitt Co (GA) CB Jay Ward to doubtful as a weekend official visitor. Now, that absolutely does not mean that he'll never visit College Station, but it will be tough to get him in at the end of this particular week. I do still believe he'll find his way to A&M prior to signing.I've heard encouraging things regarding Braedon Mowry getting his affairs in order. Still work to be done there, but the prospects of Mowry signing are increasing.A new name to keep an eye on at CB is Daphne (AL) standout Christian Williams. Williams is committed to Bama but did not sign with the Tide and has the Aggies at the very least interested to see if they can get him to campus. Still not hearing positive visit feedback out of Florida with Madison County standout and Florida St CB commit Travis Jay. Like I said though, he's a quiet kid. I wouldn't think we'd hear about an A&M visit until right before he got on a plane, but I'd put that likelihood at doubtful as of today. In 2020, two names are currently surging with A&M momentum, and they are Bastrop Cedar Creek DE Alfred Collins and Shadow Creek S Xavion Alford. Collins has ties to Texas (his mom went to school there), but he's visited A&M almost a handful of times and is by no means a Horn lock at this point from the way it was explained to me. Alford hasn't been offered yet, but I had an in-state talent evaluator that told me his film is probably the best junior safety film in the state of Texas. After watching it in its entirety, I'd probably agree. Alford is one of many 2020 prospects that could see an A&M offer come their way as the staff really starts honing in on their needs in the class. Longview DT and A&M legacy Sawyer Goram-Welch will also get a long look as will his HS QB Haynes King.
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Temperature Gauge: Liucci discusses where A&M sits with remaining targets
During Monday's edition of TexAgs Radio Billy Liucci joined to analyze the Aggies' chances with a few of the top remaining recruits on the board with a little more than four weeks until National Signing Day 2019.
Notes on four remaining top targets
Amite (LA) Devonta Lee:Lee told me today that he's super excited about his visit to Texas A&M on Jan 11-13. He said the staff has talked to him about playing WR, S, and OLB. He really doesn't have a preference on where he plays. He's intrigued by Jimbo Fisher and what he's building. He did say there was pressure from folks around him to stay in state and go to LSU. He'll officially visit the Tigers the weekend after A&M. Lee told me that one of the big things he'll be looking for in College Station is how he'll fit academically, socially, and in the scheme. He said he knows Jimbo is on his way to championships because he's seen how he's recruiting. The coaching staff has been telling him how much they want him daily, and they'll only turn that up another level on his visit. Lee will announce his decision on signing day. I'll have a full interview with Devonta up at some point.Amite (LA) DT Ishmael Sopsher:Ish told me that all seven of his top schools are still in the mix. Very professional answer from a guy that has, by all accounts, cut this into a two team race. I spoke with him quite a bit one-on-one, and he definitely didn't sound like a kid that had completely ruled out A&M. He spoke about the environment around Jimbo's program, and he even said he thinks a championship is coming soon to Aggieland. Ish is still looking for a way to play with his brother at the next level. Right now, LSU is the only school to offer his brother. He said if he did choose A&M, it'd be because of his relationship with Elijah Robinson and the feeling of home he gets when he's on campus. Ish wants to take his remaining officials, though he said he doesn't have them all set up just yet. Full interview with him will be up at some point soon, as well. Madison County (FL) CB Travis Jay:This one sounds like the longest shot of the four in writing about tonight. He's not a super talkative kid, and he gave pretty standard answers. As of now, he's got all of his weekends leading up to signing day full with visits. Of those visits, none include Texas A&M, and Jay never brought up the Aggies in the media fray until I asked him directly about it. He told me the communication with A&M is pretty new, but they've been consistent with checking on him since it began. Dameyune Craig is running point here according to Jay. I asked him about visiting A&M with his schedule already full, and he said the visit was a maybe. Still sounds like an awful long way to go just to get him on campus. Industry sources down here expect him to stick with the Seminoles. His high school has a long history of sending kids to Tallahassee. I'd say A&M's chances are ultra slim until they're able to find a way to get him on campus. Dyersburg (TN) LB Chris Russell:Russell is not in Orlando, but I did talk to a source very familiar with the kid and his recruitment. Russell is a late arrival on the scene, but his stock has exploded. Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, and A&M are the four teams in contention at the moment. I was told John Chavis was actually the first coach to realize what kind of talent Russell was, and his hope was to recruit him as quietly as possible. In essence, Chief was trying to keep the kid under the radar. Tennessee looks like the leader here right now, though. There are folks close to the Vol program who do not want to see Russell leave the state and excel at another SEC program. I was told they don't want a "Tyrel Dodson" situation. Other than being the home state team, Tennessee has another built in advantage - DB coach Terry Fair. You see, Russell's dad is a die hard Volunteer fan, and Terry Fair is his favorite player of all-time. A&M can counter with Jay Graham, who I'm told is also one of the dad's favorite former Vols. I fully expect to see Russell on campus next month, but the Aggies are still behind as things stand today.
Santa's got recruiting notes
First off, Merry Christmas, y'all. I hope your day has been filled with the joy and laughter with loved ones that makes this time of year so special. Also, if you're not putting your potato salad on top of your gumbo, you're living life completely wrong. Now, some recruiting stuff...-The Dead Period ends Jan 11th. As many of you know, North Forest OL Javonne Shepherd is expected to take an official visit that weekend. A&M signee and long time friend Kenyon Green will be in town, and I believe Layden Robinson will make the trip, as well. Here's my advice on Shepherd: let this thing run its course, and don't get too caught up in the day-to-day swings here. I honestly believe Javonne is pretty conflicted heading into the final month. The waves in momentum here will come to an end when pen meets paper in February. In the meantime, Shepherd seems like he's gotten himself back into outstanding shape. Good for the kid, regardless of where he signs. Another likely visitor is Amite (LA) ATH Devonta Lee though I haven't gotten that Jan 11th weekend confirmed. Whether he shows up in College Station at the end of the Dead Period or not isn't nearly as important as him showing up any time before NSD #2. Remember, Lee camped in Aggieland last summer and spent a ton of time with Mo Linguist and Mike Elko. This is also a recruitment that Jimbo Fisher has sunk his teeth into. There's still a hill to climb, but make no mistake, this staff is going to make a full fledged pursuit of one the best Louisiana has to offer. There's been another name pop up at cornerback in the last week. Madison (FL) standout Travis Jay could find his way to campus next month. The 6-1, 185 pound Florida St commit obviously has some familiarity with the A&M staff and chose not to sign with the Seminoles during the early period. I've been unable to gauge how legit and reciprocated the interest is here yet on either side, though. For now, I'd just put it down as a name to watch.Another out of state stud that didn't sign with the school they committed to was DE Nathan Pickering out of Seminary (MS). Pickering remains committed to Miss State but was part of a group of 8 commits that didn't sign early with the Bulldogs. Very early on in this cycle, Pickering conjured up a pretty serious relationship with Terry Price. Now, there's a super long way to go here, and I'd put the likelihood of this kid ending up at A&M right between slim and none on Christmas Day, but it was a name floated to our team recently. If the kid shows up in College Station, we'll let you know. Some 2020 and 2021 names that will likely end up at A&M junior days after their performance during the playoffs and/or state title games:2020 Shadow Creek S Xavion Alford 2020 Shadow Creek DE/OLB Alec Bryant 2020 Longview DT Sawyer Goram-Welch 2020 Longview QB Haynes King 2020 Bmt West Brook OLB Jay Bell 2021 North Shore QB Dematrius Davis 2021 Duncanville OL Jadarius Thursby2021 Aledo ATH Hampton Fay 2021 Aledo ATH JoJo Earle Staying with the underclassmen, I feel very comfortable calling Texas A&M the strong, early leader for Newton DE James Sylvester. I've talked to a couple of coaches around southeast Texas and beyond who have expressed to me Sylvester's desire to play for Terry Price. I expect to see the Aggies go hard at corner in the 2020 class, as well. Howell's guy Jalen Kimber looks like a high priority guy as is Dwight McGlothern. There are plenty other names out there in state, and the staff will certainly draw the attention of a couple of national guys, as well.Last thing: I met another kid that looks like he'll be in the mix in that ridiculous 2021 OL class in state. Ft Bend Christian big man Remington Strickland was visiting family in the Golden Triangle this week, and I ran into him in town down here. He's 6-4, 285 and has started receiving some serious Power 5 interest. Extremely high academic kid. Just another monster to add to that already loaded group of O-Linemen.
